seamans



(No Model.)

0. W. SEAMANS. I PLATBN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES. No. 574,175.

Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

Q x N? Q ex INVENTOR BY W 5 M;

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY THE Nonms Psnns ca PuoYo-umu. wAsmuamm n c CLARENCE W. SEAMANS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE WYCKOFF, SEAMANS & BENEDICT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLATEN FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,175, dated December 29, 1896.

Application filed June 13, 1894:. Serial No. 514,375. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. SEAMANS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Platens for Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The platens of type-writing machines are usually cylindrical in form and composed of a hollow interior core of wood or metal and a surrounding sheath or cover of soft rubber. In use platens of this construction, while mechanically most desirable, are, however, productive of considerable noise when struck by the types, and hence for this reason are objectionable.

My invention has for its main object to proa vertical central section of a cylindrical platen embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end View thereof. Fig. 3 is a crosssection through the platen, taken at the line x m of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4. is a detail central sectional view illustrating a modification.

In the several views the same parts will be found designated bythe same numerals of reference.

1 designates the core or support, which is made cylindrical in form and preferably, though not necessarily, of wood. This core, in the example shown, is made hollow or tubular, as indicated at 2, and is provided circumferentially for nearly its whole length with a groove or depression 3, leaving at each end a collar 4. Within this core is placed or packed a sound deadening or subduing substance or material 5, which may be composed of cotton, wool, magnesia, papier-mach, as-

bestos, &c. I have thus far employed sheets of asbestos rolled up into tubular form and inserted within the core, as shown; but of course this material, if used, may be packed within the core in a filamentous or fibrous state or otherwise.

If desired, the'bore or interior of the core may be entirely filled, stufied, or packed, although it is not necessary.

The circumferential groove or depression, when employed, is likewise filled with a sounddeadening substance or material 6. After the application of the filling 6 the tubular soft-rubber or other sheath or cover 7 is drawn or molded over the core and the filling to form or constitute the face of the platen.

The collars 4 are provided for the securement to the ends of the core of the metallic platen-heads 8 and 9, which are attached by means of screws 10, which enter said collars. These collars at their inner ends form circular shoulders 11, whereby the filling 6 is kept in position against endwise movement.

The platen-head S is provided with a circular flange 12, which enters the bore of the core, and with a journal-bearing 13 to receive a journal or pivot on the paper-carriage frame, while the platen-head 9 is likewise provided with a flange 12 and a bearing 13, and also with a series of ratchet-teeth 14 to be engaged by the usual line-space-drivdng pawl at the right-hand side of the paper-carriage.

Referring to Fig. 4, the platen is constructed in all particulars like that shown at Fig. 1, with the exception that the collar 4, instead of being made integral with the core, is constructed separately and attached to the core by glue or other fastening means. In the type of platen illustrated, these collars l or 4: are necessary in order to provide the requisite amount of stock or thickness at the ends of the core for the reception of the fastening-screws 10, but in other types or constructions of platen the collars and screws are omitted.

In operation when the types strike the outer covering 7 of the platen the filling 6 acts to absorb or subdue the vibrations dueto the impact of the types, while at the same time the stuffing or filling 5 within the core serves also to absorb or arrest any vibrations which may be set up in the core by the blows oi the types and which may not be absorbed by the filling 6.

I have found in actual. use that a platen constructed in the manner herein shown and described produces considerably less noise than any of the plat-ensheretoforc made with which I am familiar.

\Vhilc I prefer to use both the filling 5 and the filling 6, it will be understood, however, that, as far as the main feature of my invention is concerned, either filling may be used without the other with better results, as far as deadening or mu'l'l'ling the platen is concerned, than can be obtained with the prior constructions of platen. Still I have found during my experiments that the most satisfactory results are obtained when both said fillings are employed. ll, however, regard as the more important the noise subd uing or moderating substance which lies immediately back of and in contact with the sheath or cover.

Various changes in detail construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the essence of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A platen fora type-writing machine, con sisting of a hollow core formed with a circumferential depression, a sound-deadening filling within the bore of said core, a similar filling within said depression, and a sheath or cover.

2. A platen for a type-writin g machine, consisting of a hollow wooden core having a circumferential depression and end collars, a filling within the bore of said core, a filling within said depression, a sheath or cover, and heads secured to said collars.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of June, A. D. 1894.

CLARENCE W. SEAMANS.

\Vitnesses: WALLACE P. Gnoon, Geo. B. WEBB. 

